Strawberry plant named &#39;bg-625&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct winter planted short day variety of strawberry known as ‘BG-625’. This new variety is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the southern coast of California. Its strong vigorous plant with large uniformly shaped fruit particularly characterizes the new variety. The fruit is medium to light in color and tends to develop raised seeds at times. Fruit size and production tends to fall off late in the season while the peak is relatively strong during the months of March through April.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct short-daystrawberry variety designated as ‘BG-625’. This new variety is a resultof a controlled cross of ‘Anahiem’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,659) and‘PS-592’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,903). Plant Sciences, Inc. on behalf ofBerry Genetics, Inc. performed the cross under contract. The variety isbotanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

[0002] The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross wasasexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in Siskiyou County,Calif., and was subsequently selected from a controlled breeding plotnear Oxnard, Calif. in 1997. After its selection, the new variety wasfurther asexually propagated in Siskiyou County, Calif. by stolons andextensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields nearOxnard, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination oftraits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed andremain true to type through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0003] The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of thenew variety at various stages of development as nearly true as it ispossible to make in color reproductions:

[0004]FIG. 1 shows a close-up of typical leaf characteristics taken onMay 13, 2000;

[0005]FIG. 2 shows a close-up of typical fruit characteristics taken onApr. 21, 2000.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0006] ‘BG-625’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growingconditions of the southern coast of California. This region provides thenecessary winter temperatures required for it to produce a strongvigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from January throughJune. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderatetemperatures to maintain fruit quality during the winter and springproduction months. The following list of traits in combination define‘BG-625’ as a unique variety distinguishing it from the most widelygrown commercial variety in the region, ‘Camarosa’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.8,708).

[0007] ‘BG-625’ is a medium to large plant. When provided with optimumchilling in the nursery propagation fields prior to being dug andartificial cold storage prior to being planted, the plant of ‘BG-625’ islarger and more vigorous than ‘Camarosa’. The plant habit of ‘BG-625’ isglobose where ‘Camarosa’ is more flat globose. The color of the uppersurface of the leaf of ‘BG-625’ is medium green while ‘Camarosa’ ismedium to light green. The leaf shape in cross section of ‘BG-625’ isstrongly to slightly concave while ‘Camarosa’ is slightly concave toflat. Leaf blistering of ‘BG-625’ is medium while ‘Camarosa’ is mediumto strong. The terminal leaflet length to width ratio of ‘BG-625’ isnearly as long as broad while ‘Camarosa’ is longer than broad. Leafgloss of ‘BG-625’ is medium to strong while ‘Camarosa’ is medium.Petioles of ‘BG-625’ are shorter and smaller in diameter than‘Camarosa’. ‘BG-625’ has fewer serrations per leaf as compared to‘Camarosa’. Table 4 illustrates foliage characteristics of ‘BG-625’ and‘Camarosa’.

[0008] ‘BG-625’ is capable of long season fruit production with fruit ofexcellent size and quality during the entire season when provided withoptimum chilling in the nursery propagation fields and artificially coldstored prior to being planted. ‘BG-625’ does not fruit as early as‘Camarosa’ in January. Fruit production begins up to 1-2 weeks laterthan ‘Camarosa. ‘BG-625’ also does not fruit as heavily as ‘Camarosa’late in the season (May-June). Over a two year average ‘BG-625’ yieldshave been very comparable to ‘Camarosa’ with similar runner productionand a much larger berry size as compared to ‘Camarosa’ (Table 1). Thestolon anthocyanin coloration of ‘BG-625’ is strong while ‘Camarosa’ ismedium. The stolon pubescence of ‘BG-625’ is strong and mostlyperpendicular to the stolon while ‘Camarosa’ is medium and mostlyparallel to the stolon.

[0009] The fruit of ‘BG-625’ is mostly smooth with very few longitudinalcreases and good overall appearance and gloss. See Table 3 for fruitquality performance ratings. The fruit length to with ratio of ‘BG-625’is as long as broad while ‘Camarosa’ is much longer than broad. Thepredominant fruit shape of ‘BG-625’ is conical to cordiform while‘Camarosa’ is cylindrical to wedged. The difference in fruit shapesbetween primaries and secondaries of ‘BG-625’ is none-or very slightwhile ‘Camarosa’ is moderate to marked. ‘BG-625’ has a narrow bandwithout achenes under the calyx while ‘Camarosa’ is medium. The surfaceof the fruit of ‘BG-625’ tends to be very uniform and even lackinglongitudinal creases while ‘Camarosa’ tends to more of an uneven surfacewith more longitudinal creases and irregular shapes. The fruit color of‘BG-625’ is orange red to red while ‘Camarosa’ is red. The fruit glossof ‘BG-625’ is medium to strong while ‘Camarosa’ is medium. Theinsertion of achenes of ‘BG-625’ are level with the surface of the berryto above while ‘Camarosa’ tends to be below the surface of the berry.The attitude of the calyx segments of ‘BG-625’ is typically collapsingto spreading while ‘Camarosa’ is more reflexed. The fruit firmness of‘BG-625’ is medium while ‘Camarosa’ is very firm. Table 2 illustratesfruit characteristics of ‘BG-625’ and ‘Camarosa’.

[0010] The inflorescence position of the flowers relative to the foliageof ‘BG-625’ is level with to above while ‘Camarosa’ is level with tobeneath. ‘BG-625’ typically has no anthocyanin coloration to theinflorescence while ‘Camarosa’ is light. The pedicel's holding theprimary and secondary berries of ‘BG-625’ are both longer than‘Camarosa’ See Table 5 for inflorescence characteristics. The flowersize of ‘BG-625’ is medium to large while ‘Camarosa’ is large. The petallength to width ratio of ‘BG-625’ is broader than long while ‘Camarosa’is longer than broad. ‘BG-625’ also has typically fewer petals perflower than ‘Camarosa’. See Table 6 for flower characteristics.

[0011] For identification a series of molecular markers have beendetermined for this new variety.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0012] Unless otherwise noted, this detailed description is based onobservations taken during the 2000-growing season in Oxnard, Calif.These measurements and ratings were made from plants dug from ahigh-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during thefirst week in October 1999 and planted 3 days later in Oxnard, Calif.Yield observations are averaged from data collected during the 1999 and2000 growing seasons. The characteristics of the new variety may vary indetail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, includingweather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soiltype and location. ‘BG-625’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. Color terminology follows the Munsell Book ofColors, Munsell Color, Baltimore, Md. (1976).

Fruit Characteristics

[0013] ‘BG-625’ fruit, fruit production and runner production (fruitingfield) characteristics as compared to those of ‘Camarosa’. TABLE 11999-2000 average market fruit yield, fuit size and runner productioncharacteristics from plants harvested from January through May, 1999 and2000 of ‘BG-625’ dug from a high elevation nursery (Macdoel, California)during the first week of October and planted 4-5 days later and comparedwith ‘Camarosa’ in Oxnard, California. 1999-2000 1999 2000 1999-2000Average Total Total Average Fruit Fresh* Fresh* Fresh* Size 1999-2000Yield Yield Yield Fresh Average Cultivar GM/PL GM/PL GM/PL GRMRunners/PL ‘BG-625’ 971 693 832 29.2 0.6 ‘Cama- 876 799 837 22.8 0.4rosa’

[0014] TABLE 2 Comparison of secondary fruit characteristics of ‘BG-625’and ‘Camarosa’ from Oxnard, California, April 7, 2000. Character‘BG-625’ ‘Camarosa’ Munsell Color 7.5R 3/12 to 4/12 5R 3/8 to 3/10 FruitLength 3.8 4.5 mean (cm) 2.9-4.9 4.1-5.1 range Fruit Width 3.8 3.2 mean(cm)* 3.3-4.3 2.8-3.5 range Fruit Length/Width Ratio 1.00 1.40 CalyxDiameter 4.8 4.7 mean (cm) 4.1-5.5 3.7-5.6 range

[0015] TABLE 3 Comparison of 1998-2000 fruit quality characteristics of‘BG-625’ and ‘Camarosa’ from Oxnard, California.* Character ‘BG-625’‘Camarosa’ Skin Firness 7.7 9.0 Fruit Appearance 7.3 7.0 Fruit Gloss 8.07.6

[0016] Fruit characteristics are taken from secondary fruit on a firstyear planting.

[0017] Fruit:

[0018]Ratio of length/width.—as long as broad.

[0019]Size.—very large (mean length 3.8 cm, mean width 3.8 cm).

[0020]Predominant shape.—conical to cordiform.

[0021]Difference in shapes between primary and secondary fruit.—none orvery slight.

[0022]Band without achenes.—narrow.

[0023]Unevenness of surface.—absent or very weak.

[0024]Color.—orange red to red.

[0025]Evenness of color.—even.

[0026]Glossiness.—medium to strong.

[0027]Insertion of achenes.—level with the surface to above the surface.

[0028]Insertion of calyx.—in the basin to level.

[0029]Attitude of the calyx segments.—collapsing to spreading.

[0030]Size of calyx in relation to fruit diameter.—slightly larger tomuch larger.

[0031]Adherence of calyx (when fully ripe).—strong.

[0032]Firmness of skin.—medium (See Table 3).

[0033]Firmness of flesh.—medium (See Table 3).

[0034]Color of flesh.—light red (7.5R 3/12 to 4/12).

[0035]Distribution of red color of the flesh.—marginal and central.

[0036]Hollow center.—N/A.

[0037]Time of flowering (50% of plants at first flower).—medium.

[0038]Time of ripening (50% of plants with ripe fruit).—medium.

[0039]Type of bearing.—not remontant.

Plant Characteristics

[0040] Plant characteristics are based upon plants planted with optimumfield chilling and subsequent optimum artificial cold storage.

[0041] Plant:

[0042]Size.—medium to large.

[0043]Habit.—globose.

[0044]Density.—medium.

[0045]Vigor.—medium to strong.

[0046] Stolons:

[0047]Number.—medium.

[0048]Anthocyanin coloration.—strong.

[0049]Thickness.—medium.

[0050]Pubescence.—strong.

Foliage Characteristics

[0051] ‘BG-625’ foliage characteristics as compared to those of‘Camarosa’. TABLE 4 Comparison of leaf characteristics of ‘BG-625’ and‘Camarosa’ from Oxnard, California, April 7, 2000. Character ‘BG-625’‘Camarosa’ Munsell Color 7.5GY 3/4 to 3/6 5GY 3/4 to 3/6 (upper surface)Terminal Leaflet Length 6.2 6.5 mean (cm) 5.9-6.6 5.7-7.3 range TerminalLeaflet Width 6.3 6.7 mean (cm) 5.4-7.5 5.5-8.1 range Terminal Leaflet0.99 0.97 ratio (L/W) Petiol Length 15.1 16.6 mean (cm) 12.2-18.515.3-18.3 range Petiole Width 3.6 3.9 mean (mm) 3.2-4.0 3.0-5.0 rangePetiolule Length 5.3 7.3 mean (mm) 3-9 5-10 range Serrations/Leaf 17.719.8 Serration Depth 5.6 5.4 mean (mm) 4.5-6.4 4.2-6.2 range

[0052] Foliage characteristics are taken from a fully mature tri-foliateduring mid season.

[0053] Foliage:

[0054]Color of upper surface.—medium green (7.5GY 3/4 to 3/6).

[0055]Shape in cross section.—strongly to slightly concave.

[0056]Blistering.—medium.

[0057]Glossiness.—medium to strong.

[0058] Terminal leaflet:

[0059]Mean length.—6.2 cm.

[0060]Mean width.—6.3 cm.

[0061]Length/width ratio.—as long as broad.

[0062]Shape of base.—obtuse.

[0063]Shape of incision of margins.—serrate.

[0064]Depth of serrations.—medium to deep.

[0065] Petiole:

[0066]Pubescence.—moderate to heavy.

[0067]Anthocyanin coloration of stipule.—N/A.

[0068]Attitude of hairs.—slightly outward.

[0069]Mean length.—15.1 cm.

[0070]Mean width.—3.6 cm.

[0071]Thickness.—medium.

Flowers and Inflorescences

[0072] ‘BG-625’ inflorescence and flower characteristics as compared tothose of ‘Camarosa’. TABLE 5 Comparison of inflorescence characteristicsof ‘BG-625’ and ‘Camarosa’ from Oxnard, California, April 7, 2000.Character ‘BG-625’ ‘Camarosa’ Primary Pedicel Length 17.5 16.8 mean (cm)12.0-23.0 12.0-19.0 range Primary Pedicel Width 3.2 3.2 mean (mm)2.7-3.5 2.8-4.2 range Secondary Pedicel Length 19.4 14.3 mean (cm)17.0-22.2 10.0-17.3 range Secondary Pedicel Width 3.1 2.9 mean (mm)2.6-4.2 2.5-3.5 range

[0073] TABLE 6 Comparison of secondary flower characteristics of‘BG-625’ and ‘Camarosa’ from Oxnard, California, April 7, 2000.Character ‘BG-625’ ‘Camarosa’ Flower Diameter 2.9 3.8 mean (cm) 2.4-3.33.2-4.5 range Petal Length 1.1 1.1 mean (mm) 1.0-1.2 1.0-1.2 range PetalWidth 1.2 1.1 mean (mm) 1.0-1.3 1.0-1.2 range Petal 0.95 1.00 L/W RatioPetals/Flower 5.3 6.4

[0074] Inflorescence characteristic are taken from a fully mature plantduring mid season. Flower characteristics are taken from a secondaryflower during mid season at full maturity:

[0075] Inflorescence:

[0076]Position relative to foliage.—level with to above.

[0077]Secondary pedicel length.—very long.

[0078]Secondary pedicel width.—thick.

[0079]Pubescence.—weak to medium.

[0080]Anthocyanins.—none to very light.

[0081] Flowers:

[0082]Color.—white.

[0083]Mean flower diameter.—2.9 cm.

[0084]Size of calyx relative to corolla.—larger.

[0085]Relative position of petals (observed on flowers with 5 or 6petals).—free to touching.

[0086]Length/width ratio.—broader than long.

Pest Reactions

[0087] This new variety may not be resistant to any of the knowninsects, diseases or viruses common in California. It is known to besusceptible to the two-spotted spider mite, aphid and flower thrips. Itis also known to be susceptible to grey fruit mold, powdery mildew andangular leafspot. The susceptibility of the new variety to any of thevirus complexes of California has not been determined.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry variety as herein describedand illustrated by the characteristics set forth above.